Desk station for pneumatic-dispatch systems



Nov. 26, 1929. J. T. COWLEY DESK STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Original Filed Oct. 10. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gzfll 'Nov. 26 1929. J. T. COWLEY DESK STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 10, 1927 they J. T. COWLEY DESK STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS NOV. 26, 1929.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed 0013 10, 1927 I Jzrlwszfowl g W M M r%mallwy z/fl'liy Nov 26, 1929. I .1. T. co'wLEY I 1,736,995 I DESK STATION FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEMS Original Filed Oct. 10. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I /%Q.U

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNETED STATES PTENT QFEQE JAMES 'I'. COWLEY, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE TO THE LAMSON CQMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CGRPOBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DESK STATION FOR PNEUMATIC-DISPATCH SYSTEMS Application filed October 10, 1927, Serial No. 225,080. Renewed March 25, 1929.

of the desk or cabinet and thus the arrangement of the dispatch and delivery terminals should be such that they are readily accessible to the operator without interference with his other duties. In order to avoid undue noise when the carrier arrives, it is desirable to house the delivery terminal at least within the desk, cabinet or the like,but this leaves the operator without notice of the arrival of the carrier, and the present inventionprovides suitable signal means, preferably visible rather than audible, so that the operator may not neglect a carrier requiring his attention.

As herein disclosed by way of example the invention is embodied in a flat-top desk of a usual type having a pedestal at each side of a central knee space, one of the pedestals having the usual drawers while the other contains a carrier-receiving compartment readily accessible from the front of the desk through a normally closed opening. A signal device, for example a lamp, is energized upon the entrance of a carrier into the compartment and is automatically restored to inoperative condition by removal of the carrier from the compartment. A dispatch terminal is also arranged within convenient reach of an operator stationed at the desk, such terminal being normally closed by a retractable gate. While, as here shown, the apparatus is associated with a pneumatic conveyor system, it is broadly applicable to other systems such, for example as gravity systems, and I herein employ the terms dispatch and delivery terminals as inclusive of the terminals v of any type of system.

A typical embodiment of the invention will i be described with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the apparatus along line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the apparatus along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the signal device installed therein;

Fig. 5 is a front sectional view (with parts broken away) of the signal device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric connections shown in Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. 7 is a side View of a modified form of the sending part of the apparatus, showing the pedals in raised and lowered positions.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the invention includes gen erally a desk having a top 1, drawers 2, and if desired, a filing space 3, with a knee space 4 at the center to permit the operator to sit at the desk in the usual way. At the rear part of the desk, and standing above the desk top proper, are delivery and dispatch terminals 5 and 6, respectively, of a pneumatic dispatch system of known type. Preferably the delivery and dispatch tubes extend through the rear portion of the desk proper, and the terminals are housed within a suitable cabinet or housing 1 setting upon or forming a part of the desk.

The delivery tube 7 terminates in a valve 8 having gravity balanced closing members 9. The arriving carriers pass freely through this valve 8 and are received in an airtight chamber 11 within the desk proper, such chamber preferably being at one side of the knee space. This chamber has an extension 11 within the cabinet or housing 1 and within this extension and the chamber proper there is arranged a guide member or chute 12 adapted to direct arriving carriers toward a door 13, normally closing an access opening leading into the chamber 11. A. return or suction air tube 14 leads from the delivery terminal 5 to the opposite side of the desk where it communicates with a vertically disposed end portion 15 of a dispatch tube. The dispatch terminal comprises a receiver or shortbellmouth tube 10 which leads to the upper end of the dispatch tube. Interposed between the receiver 10 and the upper end of the c ispatch tube is a gate member 17 which normally closes the end of the dispatch tube. This gate member is preferably mounted upon a lever arm 18 which is connected by a link 19 to a bell crank lever 21. The lever 21 is conveniently located under the desk in the knee space l and directly joined to a pedal 22, and also, through a link 23, to a forward pedal 24.

The desk may be provided with electrical conductors 26 forming portions of a circuit including a switch 27 which is adapted to be closed by the passage of a carrier through the valve 8. The closure of this switch energizes ,a relay including solenoid 23 (see Fig. 6) and thereby moves a bar 28 which closes a holding circuit lncludmg conductors 30 and a switch 32 and the coils of the solenoid. 28 and a sec-' on d circuit 33 which includes a signal lamp 3. The circuit including the conductors 30 is noranally closed at the switch 32 so long as the door is closed.

As thus constructed and arranged, the desk may be used continuously with respect to the proper treatment of the contents of the carriers, such as orders, etc., or collateral matters, the top, drawers and cupboard being freely available without interruption. When a carrier is discharged through the valve 8 and falls into chamber 11 it or the valve 8) will strike and temporarily close the switch 27 and then roll down chute 12 against the door 13. The closing of switch 27 completes the primary circuit 26 through solenoid 28. The relay solenoid is thereby activated, its electromagnetic force raising the member 29. The door 13 being normally closed, and like- Wise door switch 32, the bar 29 closes the circuit 30 which includes the solenoid 28 and also closes the circuit 33 through the signal lamp 34, thus lighting the bulb and indicating that a carrier has entered the chamber.

The operator, who upon observing the signal is notified of the arrival of a carrier, opens the door 13 and removes the carrier (36) Fig. 4. Upon opening the door the projection 35 of door switch 32 is retracted thus breaking the electric circuit 30. This renders the solenoid 28 inoperative, thus breaking the connection formed by the bar 29 in circuit 30 and also in the light circuit 33 through the signal lamp 34.

The door is then closed, whereupon switch 32 is automatically closed, and valve 8 is closed by the inrush of air. The apparatus is again in position to indicate the arrival of another c arrier.

The contents of the carrier may now be disposed of as required and the carrier re- 11 the caricr is to be returned to the closing the opening at 16 and serving to hold a subsequent carrier in the receiver 10 until it is to be dispatched.

Thus the apparatus permits an operator ofiiciently and effectively to attend to the incoming carrier and their contents, substantially without any possibility of oversight and yet without necessitating constant observation of the receiving compartment. Again, perator may remain standing or seated the nature of his work may require and yet or. rate the receiving and sending elements or" the apparatus. Furthermore, the operator may l ave the station altogether and be enqsc elsewhere but so long as he is within it of the signal device (or within hearing c /c., if a hell or othersignal is employed) he may Salli satisfactorily supervise the apparatus and operate it with regularity. doreover, the apparatus is competent to receive a plurality of carriers Without clogging, and all may be removed through the door 13 in the order of their arrival.

It will be understood, by those familiar *ith the art, that numerous adaptations and modifications of the apparatus may and probahly Will be resorted to in actual practice with substauti ally equivalent'results to those here in contemplated. But such modifications and ada stations are to be considered as comprehended in the above disclosure and included by the terms or" the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described, com prising a piece of usual oirlce furniture pro vided with a compartment, a door normally closing an entrance to the compartment, a pneumatic tube terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, a suction tube connected to said terminal, means normally closing the delivery terminal, said means opening automatically to permit a carrier to enter the compartment, and signal means to indicate the delivery of a carrier into the compartment.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a desk provided with a compartment, a door normally closing an entrance to the compartment, a conveyor tube terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, a dispatch terminal within convenient reach of an operator stationed at the desk, means normally closing the delivery terminal, said means opening automatically to admit an arriving carrier to the compartment, and electric signal means actuated by the arrival of a carrier to indicate the presence of a carrier in the compartment.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a piece of usual ofiice furniture provided with a compartment, a door normally closing an entrance to the compartment, carrier conveying means having a t :minal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, means normally closing said delivery terminal but opening upon impact of a carrier and closing the terminal after the passage of the carrier, a normally closed electric switch arranged to be opened when the door is opened, an electric signal device,'and means operated by the opening of said closure means to establish an electric circuit through the door switch and the signal.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a piece of usual oflice furniture provided ith a substantially air-tight compartment, a door normally closing an entrance to the compartment, a tube terminal arranged to deliver carriers into the compartment, :1 return transmission tube, closure means within the compartment, said closure means being normally closed but opening upon impact of a carrier and closing the terminal after the passage thereof, an electric circuit including a normally closed switch arranged to be opened by the opening of the door, electric signaling means, and means operated by the opening of said closure means to establish a flow of electric current through said signaling means and circuit, the opening of said door breaking the electric circuit and cutting off current through the signaling means.

5. Apparatusof the class described including a desk having a flat top and a housing extending above the top, a compartment including portions within the desk proper and the housing, respectively, a conveyor tube terminal arranged to deliver carriers into that portion of the compartment which is within the housing, a normally closed door giving access to that portion of the compartment which is within the desk proper, a chute for conducting carriers from the terminal to a point adjacent to the door, and signal means to indicate the presence of a carrier within the compartment.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a desk having a fiat top, a delivery terminal of a pneumatic dispatch system disposed above the rear portion of the top of the desk, a normally closed chamber within the desk arranged to receive carriers from the delivery terminal and adapted to retain a plurality of carriers, signal means to indicate the arrival of a carrier from the delivery "terminal, means permitting the removal of carriers from the chamber, and means associated with the removal means to return the signal means to inoperative condition.

, 7. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a desk having a flat top,-a delivery terminal of a pneumatic dispatch system for lcarriers disposed above the rear portion of the desk top, a housing enclosing the terminal,

the interior of the housing communicating the delivery terminal but opening under the no impact of a carrier, the desk having a chamber for the reception of carriers delivered by the terminal, said chamber having a movable closure giving access to'the chamber for removal of carriers therefrom, signal means forums indicating the arrival of a carrier, a return air tube leading from the delivery terminal to a dispatch tube, a receiver associated with the dispatch tube, a gate interposed between the receiver and the dispatch tube, and foot pedal means for moving the gate to admit carriers from the receiver into the dispatch tube.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a desk having a flat top, a pneumatic r dispatch delivery terminal disposed above the desk top, means normally closing the delivery terminal but opening under the impact of a carrier, the desk having a normally closed chamber for the reception of carriers delivered by the terminal, a dispatch tube having its end portion within the desk structure, an air return tube connecting the delivery ter minal to the dispatch tube, a receiver associated with the dispatch tube, a gate normally interposed between the receiver and the dispatch tube, and means actuable by the foot of the operator for opening the gate to admit carriers from the receiver to the dispatch tube.

10. Apparatus of the class described com prising a desk having a flat top, a pneumatic dispatch delivery terminal disposed above the rear portion of the desk top, the desk having a normally closed chamber for the reception of carriers from the terminal, a movable closure giving access to said chamber to permit removal of carriers therefrom, a dispatch tube, a receiver associated with the dispatch tube, a gate normally closing the receiving end of the dispatch tube, foot pedal means 4 MMWEQ.

ifi-h e,

for retracting the gate to admit carriers from the receiver to the dispatch tube, said gate normally being closed, and spring means for automatically returning the gate to closed position when the foot pedal is released.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a desk having a flat top, a pneumatic dispatch delivery terminal disposed above the rear portion of the desk top, the desk having a normally closed chamber for the reception of carriers delivered by the terminal, a movable closure givin access to the chamber to permit removal 0 carriers therefrom, a dispatch tube, a receiver for delivering carriers into the end of the dispatch tube, a gate normally closing the end of the dispatch tube, and foot pedal means including a front and a rear pedal independently actuable for retracting the gate to permit carriers to pass from the receiver into the dispatch tube.

Signed by me at Syracuse, N. Y., this sixth day of October, 1927.

' JAMES T.'COWLEY.

was 

